[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 814-815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00026]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD035


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern 
United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Approved Monitoring 
Service Providers

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice, approved monitoring service providers.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS has approved five companies to provide at-sea monitoring 
services to Northeast (NE) multispecies vessels in fishing year (FY) 
2014. Regulations implementing Amendment 16 to the NE Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan (Amendment 16) require third-party at-sea 
monitoring service providers to apply to, and be approved by, NMFS in a 
manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act in order to be 
eligible to provide at-sea monitoring services to sectors.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the list of NMFS-approved sector monitoring 
service providers are available at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/sfd/sfdmultisector.html or by sending a written request to:
     Fax: (978) 281-9135, Attn: Mark Grant.
     Mail: 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn: 
Mark Grant.
    For service provider contact information, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Grant, Sector Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9145, fax (978) 281-9135, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Amendment 16 (75 FR 18262; April 9, 2010) 
expanded the sector management program, including requirements to 
ensure accurate monitoring of sector at-sea catch and dockside 
landings, and common pool dockside landings. Framework Adjustment 48 to 
the FMP (Framework 48, 78 FR 26118, May 3, 2013) removed dockside 
monitoring requirements and revised the goals and objectives for sector 
monitoring programs.

Standards for Approving At-Sea Monitoring Service Providers

    Regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(b)(4) describe the criteria for NMFS 
approval of at-sea monitoring service providers. NMFS is approving 
service providers for FY 2014 (beginning May 1, 2014) based on: (1) 
Completeness of applications, (2) determination of the applicant's 
ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a sector 
monitoring service provider, and (3) performance as NMFS-funded 
providers in FY 2013. NE multispecies sectors are required to design 
and implement independent, third-party at-sea monitoring programs in FY 
2014, and are responsible for the costs of these monitoring 
requirements, unless otherwise instructed by NMFS.
    NMFS first approved service providers for FY 2010, based upon the 
completeness of their application addressing the regulatory 
requirements (Sec.  648.87(b)(4)(i)), and a determination of the 
applicant's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a 
monitoring service provider. For FY 2013, NMFS approved service 
providers based on completeness of applications, determination of 
ability, and performance during FY 2012. During FY 2012 and 2013, at-
sea monitoring has been conducted by A.I.S., Inc.; East West Technical 
Services, LLC; and MRAG Americas, Inc. under contract with NMFS.
    Once approved, providers must document having met performance 
requirements in order to maintain eligibility (Sec.  648.87(b)(4)(ii)). 
NMFS can disapprove any previously approved service provider during the 
FY if the service provider in question ceases to meet the performance 
standards. NMFS must notify service providers of disapproval in 
writing.

Approved Monitoring Service Providers

    NMFS received complete applications from five companies interested 
in providing at-sea monitoring services in FY 2014. Four of the 
applicants were previously approved to provide at-sea monitoring 
services to sectors. The fifth application was received from Fathom 
Research, a new applicant. The Regional Administrator has approved the 
following service providers as eligible to provide at-sea monitoring 
services in FY 2014:

                                                           Table 1--Approved FY 2014 Providers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Provider name                        Address                Phone            Fax                             Web site
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACD USA Ltd............................  4 Parker St., 2nd Floor,     902-422-4745    902-422-9780  www.atlanticcatchdata.ca.
                                          Gloucester, MA 01930.
A.I.S., Inc............................  89 N. Water St., P.O. Box    508-990-9054    508-990-9055  aisobservers.com.
                                          2093, New Bedford, MA
                                          02741.
East West Technical Services, LLC......  86 Mumford Rd.,              860-910-4957    860-223-6005  www.ewts.com.
                                          Narragansett, RI 02882.
Fathom Research, LLC...................  1213 Purchase St., New       508-990-0997    508-991-7372  www.fathomresearchllc.com.
                                          Bedford, MA 02740.
MRAG Americas, Inc.....................  65 Eastern Ave., Unit        978-768-3880    978-768-3878  www.mragamericas.com.
                                          B2C, Essex, MA 01929.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 815]]

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 2, 2014.
Sean F. Corson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-00026 Filed 1-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P